54 | CHINA VIETNAM JAPAN

DAY 01 Arrival Hanoi (D)Fly to Hanoi - the heart of Northern Vietnam. Hanoi, Vietnam’s capital city, boasts tree-lined streets and centuries-old temples via connecting cities. Upon arrival, transfer to your hotel by driver only. Around 18:30pm, you are picked up from your hotel by rickshaw. Take rickshaw ride around the trading area in Hanoi Old Quarter then take you past Hoan Kiem Lake to see the peaceful water. This scenic lake is part of the historical centre of Hanoi, playing a significant part in the daily cultural life of its people. There is a local legend of the Golden Turtle God appearing to an emperor above the lake. And then we will stop at the Opera House in the centre of Hanoi, built in French colonial times and now one of Hanoi’s symbols. At about 19:45pm, rickshaw ride to Water puppet show to enjoy the water puppet show - Water Puppet (or Puppetry) is a unique traditional folk theatrical art form, formed in rice culture. Being a folk art, water puppetry art has become a traditional art, a special creation of the Vietnamese people. After that we will

THE BEST OF VIETNAM Hanoi – Halong Bay - Hoi An – Ho Chi MinhTour Type: Private tour

8DAYS

Tour Highlights:• Water Puppet Show• Halong Bay Cruise• Hoi An ancient town• Mekong Delta

take a walk on the streets in the old quarter and enjoy the Vietnamese traditional food: Beef noodles. Overnight in Hanoi.

DAY 02 Hanoi – Ninh Binh – Hanoi (B/L)Tour guide will meet you at your hotel and guide you to Ninh Binh Province. Located near the Ninh Binh city, Hoa Lu is the site of a 10th-century capital of an ancient Vietnamese Kingdom called Dai Co Viet. The Kingdom was enclosed by a citadel. The citadel and the Yen Ngua limestone hills provided good defence for this kingdom against the invaders. After 2.5 hours driving, you have a chance to enjoy landscape in one of the most famous tourist province in the North of Vietnam. Visiting Hoa Lu you will have the opportunity to explore the mausoleum, temples worshiping the King of Vietnam - the Dinh Tien Hoang Temple (King Dinh temple) and Le Hoan Temple (King Le Temple). Then we will transfer from Hoa Lu to Tam Coc for lunch (buffet or set menu). In the afternoon, we will start to explore Tam Coc - means three caves, often referred to

as “Ha Long among the rice paddies”. You have a chance to release souls into the natural scenery in Tam Coc caves a beautiful picture combined with Natural beauty and rural countryside allowing you a memorable experience when participating in the program. Arrive wharf, we start boat trip on Ngo Dong River to visit Tam Coc to see the beauty of the karst formations as you pass along their base and row into one of the many caves carved through the limestone. Then, cycle for an hour on quiet roads through villages, rice fields, rivers and rocky outcrops in Tam Coc - Bich Dong (around 5 km). Dive back to Hanoi and drop off at your hotel around 18:30PM. Overnight in Hanoi

DAY 03 Hanoi – Halong Bay (B/L/D)Pick you up from your hotel in Hanoi and start our trip to explore the most amazing bay in the North of Vietnam. Arrive in our office at Hon Gai Pier, you will have a bit of time to relax and enjoy a cup of tea/coffee. Wait for our captain to finish the registration and transfer by tender to our boat. Enjoy welcome drink

55www.ctstours.co.nz |

Prices are from per person

$2,399*Price does not apply at local public holidays, festivals and trade fairs. *Price is based on minimum two people travelling, twin share.

Hotel Accommodation (or similar)

Hanoi Rex Hanoi Hotel, Executive room Halong Bay Renea Cruise, Deluxe CabinHoi An Thanh Binh Riverside, Deluxe Riverview RoomHo Chi Minh Liberty Central Saigon Centre, Deluxe Room

Price includes

• Domestic flights • 7 nights hotel accommodation • Meals as specified (B=breakfast, L=lunch,

D=dinner)• Entrance fees to the scenic spots • English-speaking tour guide• All transfers and transportation in private

vehicle• Daily 2 complimentary bottle water

Remark: Gratuities to tour guide and driver (USD$5 per person per day suggested).

and spend a couple of minutes briefing about safety on boat and activities included. Delicious Vietnamese set menu will be served while leisurely cruising further into Bai Tu Long Bay. Arrive in kayaking area – that is Cap La Island. Enjoy kayaking through the karst and breath-taking nature, swimming and relaxing. Get back to the boat and enjoy our Sunset party while our cruise sails to the overnight anchorage. Sumptuous set-dinner on board. Free time to challenge yourself in Vietnamese puzzle games, or gather your group/family for a board game; try your luck with squid fishing or simply have a cocktail and enjoy the quiet night on the bay. Overnight on board

DAY 04 Halong Bay – Hanoi - Da Nang – Hoi An (B/L)Start your day with a Tai Chi routine on sundeck or catch a morning view of the stunning bay’s landscape with a cup of tea or coffee. Breakfast will be served in Western style, familiar to you to fulfil your strength and ready for another day exploring. Explore the well-

hidden Thien Canh Son Cave. Upon return to the boat you will have about 30 minutes to freshen up and finish packing. Attend in a Vietnamese cooking demonstration. You can quickly learn a simple but delicious Vietnamese dish that Gordon Ramsey (a 2 Michelin Star Chef) used to guide – Nem Cuon or challenge yourself in fruit and vegetables carving. Enjoy a traditional Vietnamese lunch on boat. Back to the harbour and disembark in Hon Gai pier. Take you back to the airport for your flight to Da Nang. Upon arrival, transfer to Hoi An and stay overnight.

DAY 05 My Son Sanctuary - Hoi An ancient town excursion (B/L)Pick up at hotel and then we drive towards the southwest to pamper in religious centre of My Son Sanctuary - The UNESCO – listed site was constructed between the 7th and the 13th centuries, with dozens of red brick towers and sanctuaries scattered through a scenic valley. This was the heart of the Champa kingdom, and many of the landmarks recall the Cham people’s Hindu beliefs. After lunch with Vietnamese dishes, you continuously visit Hoi An Ancient Town- an exceptionally well-preserved example of a South-East Asian trading port dating from the 15th to the 19th century. Its buildings and its street plan reflect the influences, both indigenous and foreign, that have combined to produce this unique heritage site. Overnight in Hoi An.

DAY 06 Hoi An – Ho Chi Minh City – Discover Cu Chi Tunnel (B/L)Say goodbye to beautiful Hoi An town, we are now heading to Da Nang Airport for your flight to the next destination – Ho Chi Minh City. Our tour guide and driver will wait for you at the airport. Have lunch at local restaurant. After lunch, visit Cu Chi Tunnels - located approximately 70km northwest of Ho Chi Minh City centre in Cu Chi Rural District. They consist of more than 200km of underground tunnels. This main axis system has many branches connecting to underground hideouts, shelters, and entrances to other tunnels. This underground network provided sleeping quarters, meeting rooms, hospitals, and other social rooms. Arriving at Cu Chi Tunnels, you will watch documentary video and explore the tunnels. You will be guided to the tunnels system including the weapon factory, hospitals, kitchens and crawl under the tunnels. After that you’ll have the chance to try delicious manioc which is the main food in Cu Chi during the war. You’ll also have the opportunity to try to fire off an AK47 or MK16 or machine gun at the nearby shooting range (at your own cost). Free in the evening. Overnight in Ho Chi Minh City.

DAY 07 Ho Chi Minh City – Full day to Mekong Delta – Ho Chi Minh City (B/L)Leave Ho Chi Minh City behind as you drive about 2.5

hours to the Mekong Delta town of Cai Be, one of the less travelled parts at the centre of the agricultural basket. Hop aboard a small boat to take a trip around the Cai Be colourful floating market cruising among local barges full of fruits and vegetables. Though it is not nearly as busy and crowded as day’s past, you might still spot locals tossing watermelons or pineapple between their boats! The rowing boat will take you deeper into the countryside on smaller canals of the Delta surrounded by thousands of coconut palms to enjoy the peaceful time. Lunch at the local house, after meals we can walk around and then we will enjoy some different kinds of fruits while listening to the traditional music. One more thing to do in this trip is biking! It will be so amazing to bike on village paths to see traditional houses made of wood and palm tree leaves and see some activities of the local farmers with an opportunity to make contacts with them and know how to make rice paper, coconut candy and pop-rice, pop-corn.... Visit the brick kilns where you can see how the local people create beautiful potteries from clay. Hop back on board the boat to explore more of the waterways before returning. Overnight in Ho Chi Minh City.

DAY 08 Arrive Home (B)Free at leisure until transfer to the airport for the flight back home.